Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a serious disease that used to be more common in the United States. In the 1980s, the United States used to see as many as 30,000 cases a year. Thanks to the vaccine, the number of hepatitis A cases in the United States has dropped by 95%.

There are 2 vaccines that protect against hepatitis A:

The hepatitis A vaccine protects infants, children, and adults from hepatitis A

The hepatitis A and B combination vaccine protects adults from both hepatitis A and hepatitis B

Because of the vaccine, rates of hepatitis A in the United States are the lowest they’ve been in 40 years. But hepatitis A is still common in other countries, so it’s possible for people to get the disease when they travel.

Most people who get hepatitis A only get a mild form of the disease. But in some cases, hepatitis A can lead to serious liver problems — and even death.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by a virus. Some people with hepatitis A don’t have any symptoms. Other people do develop symptoms, including:

Fever

Feeling tired

Upset stomach and throwing up

Not feeling hungry

Dark pee or clay-colored poop

Pain in the joints and stomach

Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)

Symptoms usually last less than 2 months — but they can last as long as 6 months.

Hepatitis A usually spreads when someone eats or drinks something that has come in contact with the poop of someone with the hepatitis A virus. For example, hepatitis A can spread when someone who has it doesn’t wash their hands properly after using the bathroom and then touches food.

Adults at increased risk for hepatitis A

Adults who are at risk for hepatitis A can also get vaccinated. The shot is given in 2 doses — adults get each dose 6 to 18 months apart.

You may be at risk for hepatitis A if you:

Travel to a place where it’s common

Are a man who has sex with men

Use drugs (with or without needles)

Are getting treatment for certain bleeding disorders, like hemophilia

Adopt a child from a country where hepatitis A is common

Work with animals that have hepatitis A — or in a hepatitis A research lab

If you’re age 18 and older and at risk for both hepatitis A and hepatitis B, you may be able to get a combination vaccine that protects against both diseases. You may be at risk for both diseases if you:

Are traveling to certain countries where hepatitis A is common

Are a man who has sex with men

Use drugs

Talk with your doctor about how to protect your family from hepatitis A.

Side effects are usually mild and go away in a few days. They may include:

Soreness or redness where the shot was given

Fever

Headache

Feeling tired

Serious side effects from the hepatitis A vaccine are very rare. Like any medicine, there's a very small chance that the hepatitis A vaccine could cause a serious reaction. Keep in mind that getting the hepatitis A vaccine is much safer than getting hepatitis A. Learn more about vaccine side effects.